Nurse Aides, Orderlies and Patient Service Associates (NOC 3413)

What They Do Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates perform some or all of the following duties: Answer call signals; supply and empty bed pans; bathe, dress and groom patients; serve meal trays, feed or assist in feeding of patients and assist patients with menu selection; lift, turn or massage patients; shave patients prior to operations; supervise patients' exercise routines, set up and provide leisure activities for patients, and accompany patients on outside recreational activities; and perform other duties related to patient care Take patients' blood pressure, temperature and pulse; report or record fluid intake and output; observe or monitor patients' status and document patient care on charts; collect specimens such as urine, faeces or sputum; administer suppositories, colonic irrigations and enemas and perform other procedures as directed by nursing and hospital staff Transport patients by wheelchair or stretcher for treatment or surgery Carry messages, reports, requisitions and specimens from one department to another Make beds and maintain patients' rooms Maintain inventory of supplies May perform maintenance tasks such as assisting with the set-up and maintenance of traction equipment, cleaning or sterilizing equipment, maintaining and repairing equipment, and assembling, setting-up and operating job-related equipment.

Where They Find Work —    Top Occupational Areas Health care and social assistance 97% Administrative and support waste management and remediation services 1% Other services (except public administration) 1% People in this group work in hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities. The unionization rate (69%) is above the average (32%) for all occupations. The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of Nurse Aides, Orderlies and Patient Service Associates are found in Manitoba and Saskatchewan while the lowest concentrations are in Ontario and Newfoundland.

Related Occupation(s) Visiting Homemakers, Housekeepers and Related Occupations (NOC 6471) Licensed Practical Nurses (NOC 3233)

Something to Think About To enhance your professional knowledge and broaden your opportunities, consider: Retraining regularly in new techniques Improving interpersonal skills Setting standards and guidelines for safety/operations

Use the "Where They Find Work" graph to target your worksearch. It may be easier to get into industries with the most people in this field. Want to work in an industry that hires fewer workers in this field? To be more marketable, check out whether you have the most up-to-date knowledge and technology skills for that industry. Check the provincial/territorial or local information (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca) for opportunities in your area.

What You Need In general, you usually need some high school education and on-the-job training. You may also need a college or private institutional program, such as nursing aide, which includes supervised practical training. Some health care facilities may also require you to complete specialized courses such as cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, and food handling/sterile processing. Most recent entrants have a community college diploma.

Required/Related    Educational Programs* This will let you explore the program(s) of study that lead to this (these) occupation(s). Nursing - Diploma (C560) Nursing - Other (C561) Social Services (C891) *  These educational programs are listed in the order in which they are most likely to supply graduates to this occupation.

Useful Experience/Skills Multidisciplinary teamwork Interpersonal communication skills Customer relations		Useful High School Subjects Multidisciplinary teamwork Interpersonal communication skills Customer relations
Depending on your background, this Education, Training, and Experience info will help you to: Choose your high school courses Plan your post-secondary program Choose relevant volunteer work Decide what new skills to learn Read job ads, professional journals, and newspapers for what the industry needs and employers want. Talk to employers and employees to find out the exceptional skills and knowledge that will help you land a job.

Current Conditions Your work prospects are rated GOOD because: Employement grew at an average rate. Hourly wages ($14.77) are below the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is close to the average. The unemployment rate (2%) is close to the 2004 average (7%).

Work Prospects Current   Good   2009   Good

Outlook to 2009 Your work prospects will continue to be GOOD because: The employment growth rate will likely be significantly above average because of ongoing trends--a growing and aging population that requires more health services, new technologies that improve the ability to diagnose/treat disease, increased government funding for health care, and Canadians with health care insurance that covers more services. Although the retirement rate will likely be average, the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings. The number of job seekers will likely match the number of job openings.

Preparing for the Competition You'll benefit from advanced training that would allow you to take advantage of opportunities requiring additional knowledge/skills. You're more likely to succeed if you search for work in nursing homes/other long-term care facilities.

If you are beginning your career investigation, national outlooks will give you a good overview of trends. Ready to explore an occupation in more detail? Check provincial/territorial or local outlooks (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca).

What you can expect to make (Average Hourly Earnings ($/hour))
Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 $13.35 $11.74 25-54 $15.06 $19.76 55+ $14.54 $19.59 Overall Average for Ages (20+) This Occupation All Occupations $14.77 $18.07		Hourly wages ($14.77) are below the national average ($18.07). These earnings are below to the average for occupations in the health sector and close to the average for all intermediate occupations. These wages grew at an average rate from 2002 to 2004.
Your salary can be affected by your background, the company's size and benefits, and the region and setting (urban or rural). Check out salaries in your own region by seeking info from: Employees/unions/associations Employers/human resource people Training institutions and placement services Company websites Professional/trade journals

Close to the average
The unemployment rate (2%) is close to the 2004 average (7%). This rate is below the average for intermediate occupations. A low unemployment rate often means less competition for the jobs available. But you still need to have the required training and experience. A high unemployment rate doesn't necessarily mean you'll have great difficulty getting hired. But it can mean a fluctuating demand for workers, and you may experience bouts of unemployment.		Year This Occupation All Occupations 1991 4% 10% 1992 6% 11% 1993 4% 11% 1994 4% 10% 1995 3% 10% 1996 3% 10% 1997 4% 9% 1998 3% 8% 1999 2% 8% 2000 2% 7% 2001 2% 7% 2002 3% 8% 2003 3% 8% 2004 2% 7%

% of Part-time work is above average
This Occupation All Occupations Full-time 66% 81% Part-time 34% 19%		There were 194,500 workers employed in these occupations in 2004, an increase of 59% since 1997. The percentage of part-time workers (34%) is above the 2004 average (19%) and has risen since 1997.
When full-time work is difficult to find, look at alternatives such as contract work, consulting, shared positions, and telework.

Below average
The percentage of self-employed workers (1%) is below the 2004 average (15%)		This Occupation All Occupations Self-Employed 1% 15%
Does this occupation have an above-average rate of self-employment? Consider being your own boss if you can't find work with an employer.

Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 9% 10% 25-54 76% 72% 55+ 14% 12%		The retirement rate to 2009 will likely be average reflecting the age/retirement structure of the occupation.
Look at the youngest group. A low percentage means fewer openings for brand-new workers. A high percentage means more openings for brand-new workers. Look at the oldest age group. A high percentage means positions could open up from retirements. This could be significant for both mid-career changers and brand-new workers.

Above average
The percentage of women (91%) is above the 2004 average of 48% and has stayed about the same since 1997.		This Occupation All Occupations Percent Women 91% 48%

This page last modified on: 2007-03-31